Car coupler support mechanism



p 9 8 E. KOZAK 01m COUPLER SUPPORT MECHANISM Filed Ndv. 14, 1955INVENTOR. [OM/Q0 KUZAK/ BY ATEF/VEV United States Patent-" CAR COUPLERSUPPOR'E MECHANISM Edward Kozak,Clevelai1d,'Ohio, assignor to NationalM'allcable and Steel CastingspCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationof-Ohio Application November 14, 1955, Serial No.1 546,302

6 Claims. (CL 213'61) This invention relatestosupporhmech'anism for carcouplers; andtmore particularly to combinedstriking casting and coupler;supporttfrnechanism' that can be converted frornthe rigid :type,:.which.- provides only for horizontal angling of the coup1er,-.to,-theresilient type, which permits both"verticahandhorizontal angling of thecoupler.

-While the inventionkis :especially' applicableto the 'A. A. R.(Association ofAmericamRailroads) alternate standard type F interlockingcoupler strikingcasting and coupler; support mechanism,itr'mayaalsotbeutilized in other coupler supportmechanismiofzsimilar.construction.

It is recognized,thatan'interlocking type." car coupler issuperior inmany wayswto the; non-interlocking type. Accordingly, it is.usu"ally-desirable,- both in: new car construction and in therepairwofiolder cars, toinstall interlocking couplers and-associatedresilient coupler support mechanism .whichrasaforesaid :provides forvertical as well as horizontal-1: angling 0f the; coupler. However,

probably because ofatheirzhigher.cost-theinterlocking coupler andassociated support mechanism have thus far been applied -to a"relatively smalluportion' of the. cars now in use.

The presentinvention provides'means whereby;a railroad may, withaminimum-of extra zcost prepare old-as well as new cars for;ultimate;usewith interlocking-couplers. More specifically,-:it-provides-ia' simple.and inexpensive device to permitreadyconversionofthetype of strikingcasting intended 'for use with an interlocking coupler to, one whichwilliprovidesa' 'rigidxsuppo'rt for a non-interlocking coupler,=su'ch.as the standard Ecoupler. Thus, the striking 'casting, --intendedfor eventual use with the interlocking coupler; is=-initiallyconvertedin.accordance with the invention for use with theznon-interlockingcoupler, afterwhich, by:a comparatively simple-process, the strikingcasting'maybereconverted for'useawith the interlocking coupler.

Accordingly, the primaryyobject of the invention is to provide means fortemporarilyrconvertingi aresilient type coupler carrier mechanism into;a rigid type carriermechanism.

Another object :of' :the invention is; to i provide coupler carriermechanism-10f the rigidi'support; type :that can be for use with aresilient type couplen supportmechanism to furnish a rigid support for,anassociated nonkinterlocking type coupler.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

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Fig. l -is asectional side elevational view of the combined strikingcasting and coupler support mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the coupler carrier conversionmember.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary: side elevational view showing a modification ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawings, the invention as shown comprises, in itsgeneral arrangement, an alternate standard type F interlocking. couplerstriking casting and coupler supportmember 10 on which is detachablymounted a couplercarrier member 12 of the rigid support type, in placeofthe usual carrier member which is resilientlysupported. Member 10 isadapted to be suitably secured to the center sills andendsill (notshown) of an associated railway car. The shank of an-associatednon-interlocking type car coupleris adapted to rest on carrier 'member'12 and be rigidly supported thereby. Striking casting and couplersupport member 10 comprises a *top wall 16 and depending side walls 18,forming therebetween a coupler shank receiving opening 19. Afrontabutment portion 20 extends downwardly from top wall-.16 forengagement with the horn of the associated car coupler in. eventexcessive bufling loads are applied to the coupler.

Sidewalls 18 merge at their lower ends with, transverse coupler supportportion 2l. Support portion 21 comprises the ;usual frontandrear Walls22 and 24, end wa1ls.26:and bottom wall 28 which define therebetweencarriert spring pocket, 30 for receiving coil springs for supporting anassociated resilient type carrier iron (not shown) appliedin place ofmember 12 when an interlocking coupler is used.

It will be, noted that rear wall 24 is higher than front wall 22 andthat top surfaces 22a and 24a (Fig.1) of both-walls 22 and 24 have beenbeveled downwardly and forwardly in the usual manner.

In accordance'with the invention, coupler carrier conversion-member 12is mounted on top surfaces 22a and 24a of .walls' 22 and 24; and isrigidly attached thereto by Weld means 31.;It will beunderstoorL-ofcourse, that if Member 12 is of inverted U-shaped configuration andcomprises substantially horizontal top wall 32 and de- .-pending,forwardand rearward walls34- and 36, respectively. Forward wall-34 is ofgreater vertical dimension than ,rearwalL-36 to compensate forthe-lesser height of front wallz22 of support portion 21 and therebyassures that top-wall 32 -will be substantially horizontal.

The front lower edge of forward wall34 of carrier member 12 is beveledalong its entire length,-.asat'34uz (Fig. 3),

,and the rear .loweredge of rear-wa1l36is likewise .beveled: as at.'36a,for-a purpose-to be hereinafter set forth. The lateralz-extremities ofboth front and rear walls ,34,.-and36 {are :also beveled as at 34b ;and3612, .re-

. spectively. :Asaforesaid, .carrier-member 12 ,is maintamed .in.its.assembled position on striking casting sup- ,port portion 21 byweld means 31.

- interlock'ingtypexcar-coupler. 1; place=anon-interlocking type couplerwith aninterlock- .ltwillbe understood that carrier member 12,-when sodisposed ion .-the top of thesupport portion-21 ofgthe striking casting,wil uprovide a' rigid supportnfor a non- :When it is desired :torecasting to resiliently support the interlocking type car coupler.

In this connection, it will be seen from Fig. 1 that forward andrearward walls 34 and 36, respectively, of carrier member 12 are sospaced apart as to expose the front and rear portions of the topsurfaces 22a and 24a of walls 22 and 24. This smaller width of member 12in conjunction with the aforementioned beveled portions 34a and 36a onthe lower extremities of forward and rearward walls 34 and 36 ensuresthat the outer edges of support surfaces 22a and 24a on walls 22 and 24will not be covered with weld material but will be visible to enableaccurate removal of the welds when it is desired to reconvert thestriking casting and support member from a rigid to a resilient typecarrier. Beveled portions 34a, 34b, 36a and 36b also produce a strongerweld to ensure positive attachment of carrier member 12 to supportportion 21 of the striking casting. It will be noted that the Welds 31,attaching conversion member 12 to walls 22 and 24 of the mechanism,extend transversely along the entire extent of member 12.

In conjunction with member 12, a transverse bar 42 (Figs. 1 and 2) iswelded as at 44 to the underside of downwardly extending abutmentportion 20 of top wall 16. Bar 42 limits the vertical extent of thecoupler shank opening 19 of the striking casting to that required for anon-interlocking type coupler. When the striking casting and associatedcoupler support member is reconverted into a resilient type support byremoval of the rigid carrier member 12, bar 42 is also removed.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the invention wherein transverselyextending grooves are provided in top surfaces 44 and 46 of front andrear walls 48 and 50 of support portion 21 of the mechanism. Thisprovides a convenient method of receiving the weld material for securingconversion member 12 to support portion 21 and also provides a strongerweld connection between the parts. When it is desired to remove rigidcarrier member 12 to reconvert the striking casting to a resilientsupport type for use with an interlocking type coupler, any weldmaterial remaining on surfaces 44 and 46 can be ground down to restorethe normal contour of these surfaces.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will bereadily understood that the invention provides novel means for easilyand inexpensively converting a resilient type coupler carrier mechanisminto a rigid support type carrier. When it is desired to reconvert thecarrier mechanism back to the resilient support type, it is merelynecessary to remove the rigid carrier member of the invention andreplace it with the conventional carrier and springs.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a car coupler support structure having spaced side walls and asupport portion connecting the lower ends of said walls, said portioncomprising spaced front and rear walls partially defining a springreceiving pocket therebetween, a detachable coupler carrier member ofgenerally inverted U-shaped configuration positioned on the top surfacesof said last mentioned walls forming an upward continuation of saidportion and a rigid coupler supporting surface, and weld meansconnecting said carrier member to said support portion.

2. In a car coupler support structure comprising spaced side walls and atransverse support portion connecting said walls, said portioncomprising front, rear and bottom walls defining a pocket adapted toreceive spring means to resiliently support an associated car coupler,said rear Wall extending to a higher level than said front Wall, and atransversely extending coupler carrier member of generally invertedU-shaped configuration positioned on said front and rear walls and beingrigidly attached thereto by weld material, said member having asubstantially horizontally rigid coupler supporting portion.

3. Combined striking casting and coupler carrier support mechanismcomprising a top wall, depending side walls and an integral supportportion extending between said side walls and connecting the lower endsthereof, said portion comprising spaced front and rear walls and abottom wall defining an open topped spring receiving pocket forresiliently supporting an associated car coupler, said top and sidewalls and said support portion defining a coupler receiving openingtherebetween, and a detachable coupler carrier member received in saidopening and supported on said support portion, said carrier member beingrigidly attached to said support portion by weld means and forming aseparable upward continuation of said support portion.

4. In a car coupler support structure comprising spaced side walls and asupport portion extending between and connecting the lower ends of saidwalls, said portion comprising transverse front and rear walls and abottom wall partially defining a spring receiving pocket therebetween, atransversely extending coupler carrier member posi tioned on said lastmentioned walls, the outer bottom edges of the front and rear sides ofsaid member being beveled inwardly of said member in a longitudinaldirection, and weld means engaging said beveled edges and attaching saidcarrier member to said support portion, the depth of said carrier memberbeing less than the distance between the outer sides of the upper endsof said front and rear walls, said weld means being disposed totallyinwardly of the upper outer edges of said last-mentioned walls.

5. In a striking casting having a coupler receiving opening and asupport portion defining the lower end of said opening, said portioncomprising a pair of forward and rearward spaced transversely extendingwalls and a bottom wall defining a spring receiving pocket therebetween,a carrier member bridging said walls and being secured thereto, saidmember comprising a horizontal coupler supporting portion and front andrear side portions depending from said first named portion and mergingwith the top of the corresponding one of said forward and rearwardwalls, the outer sides of said side portions being disposed inwardly ofthe outer sides of said forward and rearward walls.

6. In a striking casting of the type adapted for resilient support of acar coupler, said casing having a spring receiving pocket portioncomprising front and rear walls, end walls and a bottom wall, means forconverting said casting to provide a rigid support for a car coupler,said means comprising a detachable inverted U-shaped member supported onsaid front and rear walls and providing a separable upward continuationof said portion for rigidly supporting an associated coupler, saidmember being secured to the tops of said front and rear walls by meansof a weld.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,719,088 Smith July 2, 1929 1,932,813 Couch Oct. 31, 1933 2,604,215Kayler July 22, 1952

